Summer vacation is soon over, and school will be starting shortly for Huntley children. Some will be lucky to be transported by a special bus driver and Sun City resident, Kristen Lang.
Lang has been driving a bus for fifteen years. Most of her career was in Minnesota, where she also trained others to drive a bus.
As a 15-year veteran bus driver, SC resident Kristen Lang has devoted her mornings to making kids’ trips to school filled with magic and happiness. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Lang said, “I loved the job and the kids. I left the position because I fell in love and I moved here to Sun City. I was hired here as a bus driver for the Huntley School District. Before I left Minnesota, I wrote a letter to each of my students. It was a sad goodbye. But I love it here in Huntley.”
And students in Huntley love riding on Lang’s “Magical School Bus.” Friday is the designated “Fun Day.”
Lang said, “On Fridays, I would have a few bubbles blowing from my bubble machine at the bus stops and school. I have a mystery box, and on Friday, I pick names, and they get a prize.”
If they pick a slip of paper that says “rock,” they get a beautifully painted rock by Lang herself. These rocks, each with a unique design and a heartfelt message, serve as a token of Lang’s appreciation for her students.
“I have painted rocks for Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day,” she said. “I do it because it feels good, and I love making people happy. Students from Minnesota have contacted me just to let me know that they still have my rock.”
The younger kids might pick from a selection of small toys, while high school students may choose a gift certificate from places in Huntley.
Lang said, “The certificates are for places around Huntley that are generously donated by the businesses. Also, as a special treat, elementary students can sit wherever they want on Friday.”
Students board the bus to be greeted by Lang, who sometimes is dressed in plaid flannel one-piece pajamas, a crazy hat, glasses, a scarecrow costume, and even a Bears jersey. Her attire changes with the seasons and holidays, adding a touch of fun and excitement to the students’ daily routine.
Lang is rewarded by the happiness of her students, who love riding on her bus. “Students write me notes. I got a note from a high school student that said, ‘You bring happiness wherever you go. You truly care and appreciate each kid.’”
Items left on the bus find their way back to the students who left them behind.
“I don’t take them to the lost and found,” Lang said. “I make sure that I find the owners.”
Ending the school year, a parent captured it all in a letter addressed to the school board from the families at Wentworth & Tuscany, requesting Lang to be assigned to the same route, wishing to have “a dependable, compassionate and wonderful person transporting our children.”
The letter states, “From the very first day, Ms. Kristen has shown an extraordinary commitment to our children’s safety and well-being… She knows their names, greets them with a smile each morning, and takes time to ensure every child feels seen and valued. Our children look forward to riding the bus each day, largely because of the warmth and joy Ms. Kristen brings.”
The parents’ letter is a testament to the positive impact Lang has had on the school community.
Lang has organized a drive for school supplies from the members of the Sun City Bunco Group. She will collect all the donations and drop them off at the schools.
Huntley students in grades K-12 will begin the 2025-2026 school year on August 13, and some of them will be lucky enough to ride Lang’s Magic School Bus.
